Rededication of Immaculata Monastery

The monks of Schuyler headed north to Norfolk on May 30th to join the Oblates, family and friends of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters for the official rededication of Immaculata Monastery.

After many months of living in an apartment complex not too far from the monastery, the sisters were finally able to return to their renovated home in late May.  Changes were evident as soon as vistors walked through the front doors.  The living quarters for the sisters, the renovated infirmary, and common areas have a warm, home-like feel and are a far cry from the 1950s institutional feel of the old monastery.   A nice feature is the new addition of private rooms and sitting area for the Spirituality Center which allow space for guests to spend time with the monastic community.  The fourth floor with small private rooms and dormitory space will continue to serve as accomodation for larger groups.

The heart of the monastery is the chapel.  The community and visitors are now gathered around the altar for the celebration of the Eucharist, instead of being in separate spaces as in the old chapel.  An Adoration Chapel has been added and one area of the L-shaped worship space has been specifically designated for the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours.

Archbishop Elden F. Curtiss of Omaha presided at the Eucharist and Consecration of the Altar.  A number of priests from the Archdiocese as well as Abbot Gregory Polan and Fr. Benedict Neenan of Conception Abbey, Missouri also concelebrated.

Throughout the afternoon, guests could tour the monastery and also enjoy lunch with the sisters.  We wish our sisters to the North many blessings as the settle into their newly renovated home!

The newly renovated Chapel

Br. Tobias with Sr. Ann Marie, a Servite Sister from Omaha

Fr. Germar visits a sister in the renovated Infirmary

Prioress Sr. Kevin with Archbishop Curtiss

Solemnity of Christ the King

The Schuyler community was placed under the patronage of Christ the King when it was elevated to the rank of simple priory in 1985.  Each year the monastic community commemorates this Solemnity with joyful praise and celebration.  We give thanks to Our Lord and King for the many blessings with which he has graced our community.  The jubilation was heightened this year with the added occasions of Brother Tobias’ 40th anniversary of monastic profession and 60th birthday.  We welcomed over a hundred guests at Saint Benedict Center for an evening of prayer and fellowship.  The evening began with Solemn Vespers and continued with a social and festive supper.  A sizeable contingent of our Missionary Benedictine Sisters from Norfolk joined us, as well as two monks from Conception Abbey, Oblates of our community, co-workers from the Mission House and Retreat Center, and countless friends. 

We give thanks to all who dedicated their time and effort into making a memorable evening and to all who joined us for the event.

Oblates of Christ the King Priory with Br. Tobias

Enjoying a social hour before supper

Missionary Benedictines from around the world

Br. Tobias welcomes guests before supper

 To view the entire photo gallery, please click on the link below:

Solemnity of Christ the King

Recent Guests

“All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say: ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Mt 25:335).’” Rule of St. Benedict 53: 1

Providing hospitality has been an important ministry for Benedictine monastics since the time of Saint Benedict.  Benedict teaches us that in receiving a guest we welcome Christ himself.  We are blessed to receive guests from as near as Schuyler and as far as Tanzania. 

We recently welcomed Sister Asante, the prioress of Saint Agnes Convent in Chipole, Tanzania.  Sister Asante is the spiritual mother of over 350 sisters.  She was visiting several of her sisters who were studying in various schools throughout the United States.  Two of her sisters studying at Benedictine College in Atchison joined Sister Asante for a tour of our monastery and retreat center.

The Congregation of the African Benedictine Sisters of St. Agnes, based in Chipole, was founded in 1938 by Abbot and Titular Bishop Gallus Steiger, OSB.  Abbot Bishop Gallus was a Missionary Benedictine monk of the Archabbey of St. Ottilien and the first abbot of Peramiho Abbey in Tanzania.  The Benedictine Sisters of St. Agnes was founded as the first Benedictine congregation of native African women and currently numbers over 700 sisters.  The sisters administer several schools and medical facilities in addition to living the Benedictine rhythm of prayer in their communities.

Sister Asante

Tanzanian sisters tour the monastery

Sr. Susana, Sr. Suzanne (Atchison), Sr. Asante, Sr. Presentasia

Saint Benedict Center also hosted a regional gathering of Oblate Directors from several Midwest monastic communities.  The meeting was a time of prayer, support, and sharing for those involved with the formation of lay men and women committed to living the Benedictine way of life “in the world.”

Fr. Volker (Schuyler), Sr. Celine (Norfolk), Sr. Phyllis (Yankton/Lincoln), Sr. Eileen (Yankton), Sr. Barbara (Columbia, MO), Sr. Bonita (Yankton), Sr. Margretta (Yankton/Sioux Falls)

Vocation Awareness Days

Br. Damian & company at St. Leo, Omaha

Each year the Omaha Archdiocesan Association of Consecrated Life sponsors several Vocation Awareness Days for both rural and urban sixth grade Catholic school students.  Students have the chance to hear the vocation stories of women and men religious, members of secular institutes, priests and deacons from various communities throughout the Archdiocese.  It is a wonderful opportunity to expose young people to the witness and ministry of men and women who have committed their lives to serving God, the Church and the world.  With Br. Tobias still in Germany, Br. Damian volunteered to represent the community and hosted several small group sessions each of the five days.  He was also privileged to be one of the keynote speakers for two of the days.  

All Christians are called to vocation ministry.  We are called to identify, nuture, and encourage the faithful use of the God-given gifts in others, especially in the youth.  Let us pray that young men and women may have the courage to commit their lives to serving God in whichever way God has called them.

Members of OAACL at St. John Vianney, Omaha

Teresa of the Apostolic Oblates leads the kids in a song at St. Patrick, Gretna

Students at St. Leo, Omaha

Joan of the Apostolic Oblates gives a keynote talk at St. Leo

Br. Damian with Br. August of Mount Michael Abbey & Sr. Carole Ann of Norfolk Priory

Sr. Mary Kay of the Sisters of Mercy leads a small group presentation at St. John Vianney

Fr. Paul, Archdiocesan Vocation Director, speaks at St. Leo

Holy Apple Pickers, Batman!

Work can be a lot of fun…especially when it involves apples!  There hasn’t been a day these past couple of weeks without some sort of apple product on the refectory table — apple cider (both fresh and fermented), apple pie, applesauce, apple strudel, apple jelly…the list goes on.  Two of our Missionary Benedictine Sisters (Sr. Catherine & Novice Gina) and a co-worker (Monica) from Immaculata Monastery came by today to help relieve us of our overabundance of apples.  We were later joined by a couple of priests from the Sioux City Diocese who were on retreat at Saint Benedict Center.

Sr. Catherine enjoys the fruits of her labor

Nov. Gina

Br. Damian looking busy

Sr. Catherine

Monica

Br. Damian & Nov. Gina

Apple Pickin' Priest!

Good times!